Protective closure for an aerosol container



May 19,1970 R. F. HENDRICKSON ETAL 3,512,682

PROTECTIVE CLOSURE FOR AN AEROSOL CONTAINER 1 Filed March 14, 1968 mun-1m INVENTORS R1 041 fflame/('4 s 4 BY R406: IC 1/. A7

United States Patent Gfiice 3,512,682 Patented May 19, 1970 3,512,682 PROTECTIVE CLOSURE FOR AN AEROSOL CONTAINER Richard F. Hendrickson, Erie, and Roderick V. King, Girard, Pa., assignors to Sterling Seal Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 14, 1968, Ser. N 0. 713,075 Int. Cl. B65d 47/10 US. Cl. 222-182 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention disclosed herein is a cap for an aerosol can that has a groove down through the center. The groove has a bottom and generally parallel side walls and to this bottom is attached a small tube. The tube will receive the valve of an aerosol can. The tube may be attached to the bottom of the groove by means of threads, or it could be integrally attached with a scored line around it so that it could be removed, or it could be otherwise removably attached.

The invention disclosed herein relates to a cap suitable for use on an aerosol can. The cap is so designed that its inwardly curled rim will snap under a downward facing shoulder on a can. The center of the cap has a finger receiving groove. A tube is attached to the cap. The valve of the aerosol can extends u through the cap into the tube. The tube may have a threaded end to render it removable. It can be broken oif to render it tamperproof or it can be made of flexible material that will be fixed to the flexible valve to render it tamper-proof. The rim of the cap fits tightly into the can rim so that it cannot readily be removed once it is in place.

-It, is accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved aerosol can cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aerosol can cover that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and eflicient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aerosol can with a protector in the valve wherein the protector can be removed or the valve can be actuated by a force on the protector.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of a cap according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 3 and 4 of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, and to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, this embodiment shows a threaded protector in combination with an aerosol can wherein the bottom flange has the shape of a button for alignment with the cap, and the cap is suitable for locking on the metal band of a can.

The cap shown indicated at 10 has a wall 11 and top 12. The groove 13 is formed in the top defined by a bottom 21 and side Walls 23 and 24 generally parallel to each other. The tube 14 extends up from the groove and is attached to the bottom 21 of the groove. The cap is generally cylindrical in shape, and the open rim end 15 is curled back at 16, so that it can snap tightly under the shoulder or bump 23 on the breast 22 of a can, so that once in place it cannot be removed.

The lower end 17 of the tube 14 is threaded, and it may be received in -a threaded hole 20 of the threaded boss 18. The upper end of the tube is closed at 19.

The valve 31 of the aerosol can extends up through the threaded hole and when the tube 14 is removed, the aerosol valve can be actuated without removing the cap. The tube can be sealed to the cap so that the seal must be broken to actuate it. Thus, the cap is tamperaproof. The tube 14 can be replaced by threading it back into the threaded hole 20.

The design of the cap may be manufactured in a number of well known techniques.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cap is shown, which is similar in most ways to the cap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It has a groove 121 in the cap that extends up to the ends 112. The groove has a bottom and generally parallel side walls. The tube 114 has a closed end 119, and it is fixed to the bottom 121 of the groove. The side walls 111 of the can are generally cylindrical as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The valve actuating member 141 extends up into the tube 114, and the tube is scored around its inner end at 143, so that it can be easily broken off so that direct access can be had to move the aerosol valve to on and off position. The cap can be attached to the can 117 by means of rim so tightly that it will not come off when once in place. Thus, the cap is tamper-proof. The tube 114 has the closed end 119 which terminates slightly below the level of the closed end 112. The tube is pro tected against damage by the cap.

The aerosol would have a breast in a position shown in 131 in FIG. 4. The upper end 119 of the tube 114 is disposed slightly below the level of the end 112 of the cap.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cap 210 has a side wall 211 similar to that shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The cap has a closed end 212 with a groove 221 having a bottom and generally parallel side walls. The tube 214 is supported on the surface defining the groove, and a boss 225 is integrally attached to the inside of the cap and extends downwardly into it and terminates in the small hole 226. An actuating member 227 of the aerosol can extends up through the hole 226 and is protected by the tube 214. The breast of the can is indicated at 231. The ring 230 may be disposed around the outside of the tube, and this will be torn ofl by an operator before the can is used. The cap can be snapped into place on a can as in the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Thus, the can is virtually tamper-proof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination a tamperproof cap for an aerosol can and an aerosol can,

said cap comprising a cuplike body having a closed end and terminating in an open rim,

said can having a breast and a valve extending upwardly from the center thereof,

means on said can cooperating with said cap rim securing said cap thereon,

a groove found in said closed end of said cap and extending transversely thereof,

said groove being defined by a bottom and upwardly extending sides,

said groove bottom being spaced below said closed end,

3 4 said groove sides extending from said groove bottom said tube may be broken from said cap and removed upwardly to said closed end, from said cap. a tube integrally attached to said groove bottom and extending upwardly between said groove sides and f ren s Cit d terminating slightly below said closed end,

UNITED STATES PATENTS said tube being hollow and its lower end opening into h f 2,767,888 10/1956 Soffer 222-182X e 6 3,107,033 10/1963 Sandborn 222-182 X Said Valve extendll'lg Into Sald tube, 3 1 2 329 12 9 4 Gregory 22 132 a scored line in said groove bottom on the side thereof 3,170,603 2/1965 Kitterman 222 182 OPPOSIte sald tube, 10 3,180,532 4/1965 Michel 222182 said groove being generally concentric to said tube and spaced outwardly from the inside thereof whereby STANLEY H. TOLL'BERG, Primary Examiner 

